ZEP committee alleges children being pulled from SA schools

The Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) Coordinating Committee says thousands of school-going children from Zimbabwean families are being withdrawn from South African schools as a result of deportations, raising serious concerns about the educational futures of learners mid-curriculum.

The committee is particularly concerned about the 2026 matric class and learners in Grades 7, 10 and 11, who face significant curriculum and registration barriers if they are forced to relocate to Zimbabwe now.

The committee has proposed allowing affected learners to continue studying the South African CAPS curriculum in Zimbabwe, with joint examination centres established at Beitbridge or Musina. However, National Coordinator Edward Muchatuta said neither the South African nor the Zimbabwean Department of Education had yet responded to the proposal.

“On the twenty-ninth of June, the eve of the march, we did engage the ambassador of Zimbabwe, who promised to come back to us as soon as possible. We are going to try to push for a response from him. If we fail, then maybe we might be forced to engage the highest offices of both countries,” Muchatuta said.

The Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) Coordinating Committee says thousands of school-going children from Zimbabwean families are being withdrawn from South African schools as a result of deportations, raising serious concerns about the educational futures of learners mid-curriculum.

The committee is particularly concerned about the 2026 matric class and learners in Grades 7, 10 and 11, who face significant curriculum and registration barriers if they are forced to relocate to Zimbabwe now.

The committee has proposed allowing affected learners to continue studying the South African CAPS curriculum in Zimbabwe, with joint examination centres established at Beitbridge or Musina. However, National Coordinator Edward Muchatuta said neither the South African nor the Zimbabwean Department of Education had yet responded to the proposal. – SABC News

“On the twenty-ninth of June, the eve of the march, we did engage the ambassador of Zimbabwe, who promised to come back to us as soon as possible. We are going to try to push for a response from him. If we fail, then maybe we might be forced to engage the highest offices of both countries,” Muchatuta said.